Storage medium having electronic circuit and computer system having the storage medium

ABSTRACT

A storage medium having an electronic circuit portion serves as a central unit, and a main body serves as a peripheral unit, so that a system using the storage medium can be arbitrarily constructed and a computer system having the storage medium, for example, a personal computer, a car navigation system, a multi-functional television set, or the like can be provided. In an intelligent disk having a disk portion for storing information and an electronic circuit portion for processing information, a program for controlling at least an external device as a peripheral device is stored in the disk portion, and the electronic circuit portion executes the program to control the external device as a peripheral device.

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/000,534,filed Dec. 30, 1997 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,295,564, which application(s)are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a storage medium having an informationstorage unit for storing information and an electronic circuit portionfor processing information, e.g., an optical disk (to be referred to asan intelligent disk (ID) hereinafter; the term “ID” is not used as“IDentification” in this specification) or the like and, moreparticularly, to a computer system having the storage medium as acentral unit.

2. Description of Related Art

Conventionally, a disk having a cartridge on which a memory or a CPU ismounted or an IC card having a processor constituted by amagnetic-stripe storage and a memory or a CPU has been proposed.

However, a storage media having such intelligent is used to assist acomputer system or for transport information. In recent years, thestorage media is used as only a peripheral unit of a computer system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention removes the drawback of the prior art and providesa computer system such as a personal computer, a car navigation system,or a multi-functional television set in which a storage medium having anelectronic circuit portion serves as a central unit, and a main bodyserves as a peripheral unit, so that a system which is required by anowner of the storage medium can be arbitrarily constructed.

In order to solve this subject, a storage medium according to thepresent invention is a storage medium having an information storage unitfor storing information and an electronic circuit portion for processinginformation, characterized in that a program for controlling at least anexternal device is stored in the information storage unit, and theelectronic circuit portion has control means for executing the programto control the external device.

Here, the information storage unit stores a plurality of programs, andthe electronic circuit further comprises determination means fordetermining the characteristics of the external device and selectingmeans for selectively executing the plurality of programs incorrespondence with a determination result of the determination means.The information storage unit stores the plurality of programs, and theelectronic circuit portion further comprises display instruction meansfor causing the external device to selectively display the plurality ofprograms and selecting means for selectively executing the plurality ofprograms in correspondence with selection instruction. The informationstorage unit further stores data used in the programs. The programsand/or data are stored as a not-overlapped structure such that theprograms and/or data are separated in each part of function. Theelectronic circuit portion further comprises communication means forperforming wireless communication with a host computer, and load meansfor downloading, when a desired program or data is not stored in theinformation storage unit, a program or data from the host computerthrough the communication means. The external device is an input/outputdevice constituting a personal computer, and the programs include asystem program and/or an application program. The external device is aninput/output device constituting a car navigation system, the programsinclude a system program and/or an application program, and the dataincludes map data. The external device is an input/output deviceconstituting a multi-functional smart card, the programs include asystem program and/or an application program, and the data includesmerchandise catalog data. The storage medium is an optical disk.

A computer system according to the present invention is a computersystem including a storage medium having an information storage unit forstoring information and an electronic circuit portion for processinginformation, and is characterized in that a program for controlling atleast the computer system is stored in the information storage unit ofthe storage medium, and the electronic circuit portion of the storagemedium has control means for executing the program to control thecomputer system.

The information storage unit stores the plurality of programs, and theelectronic circuit portion further comprises determination means fordetermining the characteristics of the computer system and selectingmeans for selectively executing the plurality of programs incorrespondence with a determination result of the determination means.The information storage unit stores the plurality of programs, and theelectronic circuit portion further comprises display instruction meansfor causing the external device to selectively display the plurality ofprograms and selecting means for selectively executing the plurality ofprograms in correspondence with selection instruction. The informationstorage unit further stores data used in the programs. The programsand/or data are stored as a not-overlapped structure such that theprograms and/or data are separated in each part of function. Theelectronic circuit portion further comprises communication means forperforming wireless communication with a host computer, and load meansfor downloading, when a desired program or data is not stored in theinformation storage unit, the program or data from the host computerthrough the communication means. The computer system includes a personalcomputer, a car navigation system, and a multi-functional smart card.The storage medium is an optical disk.

Other objects and feature of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following drawings and detailed description of the preferredembodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view showing the appearance of an intelligent disk accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing an arrangement of the intelligent diskaccording to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an arrangement of a personal computer systemaccording to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a view showing contents stored in the disk portion of the IDin the system in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an operation procedure in the system inFIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing another operation procedure in the systemin FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a view showing an arrangement of a car navigation systemaccording to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a view showing contents stored in the disk portion of an ID inthe system in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing an operation procedure in the system inFIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a view showing an arrangement of an automatic selling andsettlement system.

FIG. 11 is a view showing contents stored in the disk portion of the IDin the system in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a view showing an automatic selling and settlement procedurein the system in FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing an operation procedure in the system inFIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Several embodiments according to the present invention will be describedbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodimentsdescribed here are only exemplified to effectively use the presentinvention, and the present invention is not limited to theseembodiments.

<Arrangement of ID according to Embodiment>

FIG. 1 is a view showing the appearance of an intelligent optical diskserving as a kind of ID according to this embodiment.

An ID 1 is constituted by a disk portion 3 serving as a disk surface onwhich information is stored, and an intelligent circuit portion 2mounted at the central portion of the disk portion 3 as shown in FIG. 1,for example. However, this arrangement is not limited to a specific one.For example, the circuit portion 2 may occupy one surface of the disk,or the disk may be manufactured to have a plurality of layers, and thecircuit portion 2 may be arranged on one of these layers.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a concept arrangement of the ID1.

Referring to FIG. 2, the intelligent circuit portion 2 includes a ROM 22for storing fixed information, a RAM 23 which is used as a temporarilyused if necessary, and a CPU 21 for executing a program stored in theROM 22 or the RAM 23. Reference numeral 26 denotes a photoelectric cellwhich is necessary when the ID has an independent power supply.

The intelligent circuit portion 2 exchanges information with an externaldevice through a system interface 24. The connection point of theinterface is of a contact type or a non-contact type, or bus coupling orcommunication coupling may be employed. As communication, wireless wavecommunication, optical communication, or the like may be used.

In addition, the ID according to this embodiment has a wirelesscommunication unit 25, and also has a function of performing automaticdialing when information must be transmitted to an external device orwhen data or a program must be loaded from an external device.

The system interface 24 is indicated by a broken line for the followingreason. That is, in particular, when this ID is used in a personalcomputer, bus coupling is preferably used as the coupling between the IDand the system in consideration of a data transfer rate and reliability.In this case, the system interface 24 can be omitted.

<Example of ID Constructing Personal Computer System>

FIG. 3 is a view showing an arrangement obtained when the ID accordingto this embodiment is used to construct a personal computer system.

Referring to FIG. 3, reference numeral 10 denotes set for a personalcomputer constituted by peripheral units which are bus-coupled to eachother. In FIG. 3, the minimum necessary elements are indicated by soldlines, and additional elements which are not necessary are indicated bydashed lines.

As the necessary elements, an optical disk drive unit 11 including: apick-up for reading (writing) data from the disk portion 3 of the ID ofthis example, a drive circuit portion for the pick-up, and the like; adisplay unit 13 (preferably an LCD) for displaying the conditions of thepresent system or information; a keyboard 14 (which can be replaced witha touch panel on the display unit 13) for inputting an instruction froma user; a mouse 15 (omitted in a portable personal computer) forinputting an instruction from the user like the keyboard 14; and thelike are used.

As the elements which are not necessary, a buffer memory 16 (a RAM or ahard disk device may be used) for temporarily storing a program or datawhile the program or data is being transferred, a direct memory accesscontroller (DMAC) 18 for independently performing data transfer at ahigh speed, a printer 17 for outputting a hard copy, and an ID interface12 which is used in the bus coupling also described in the explanationof the ID.

In the above description, although the arrangement is explained as a setused as a personal computer, for example, a single-purpose device for adisplay of the display unit 1, a print output from a printer 7, storageof information in the hard disk device 16, or the like may beconsidered. However, in this case, the optical disk drive unit 11 isalways a necessary element.

In this case, in order to improve a conventional device, matchingbetween the system and the ID must be established through the IDinterface 12 and the system interface 24. However, in the future, aninterface (also in case of bus coupling) is preferably standardized suchthat any system can be easily coupled to any ID.

Although FIG. 3 shows only the system which is used as a peripheraldevice, the present invention can also be applied to an arrangement inwhich the system is used as one of conventional personal computers. Thiswill be apparent from the following description of the procedure in FIG.5.

FIG. 4 shows an arrangement of information stored in the disk portion 3of the ID when the present invention is constituted as a conventionalpersonal computer.

A plurality of OSs (OS1, OS2, . . . ) 3 b, a plurality of applications(application 1, application 2, . . . ) 3 c, and data 3 d are stored atrespective positions pointed by a directory 3 a. Though only one OSand/or one application may be stored, it is preferable that a pluralityof OSs and applications are stored and a user selectively uses the OSsand the applications, to effectively use the ID of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an operation procedure of the personalcomputer system. This example is a transitional embodiment in which anOS used until the system is standardized depends on the structure of thesystem.

The circuit portion 2 of the ID 1 checks at step S51 whether or not theID 1 is inserted into the drive. If the ID 1 is inserted into the drive,the flow shifts to step S52 to check the model or the like of thesystem. Here, one of conventional personal computers may be used as thesystem even if only peripheral units are used. If only the peripheralunits are used, the CPU 21 of the ID 1 checks the characteristics,capabilities, or the like of the peripheral units. If a personalcomputer is used, the CPU 21 checks the maker, type, version, and thelike of the personal computer.

When the model or the sort of the personal computer is determined atstep S52, an optimum OS corresponding to the model is selected toinstruct the optical disk drive unit 11 to load the OS at step S53. Theselected OS is loaded on a hard disk drive serving as the buffer memory16 by, e.g., a DMA. The circuit portion 2 of the ID 1 waits for the endof loading at step S54. Upon completion of loading, the circuit portion2 starts the OS at step S55.

Subsequently, an operation of the personal computer system controlled bythe CPU 21 is realized.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing another operation procedure of thepersonal computer system. This example is an embodiment in which asystem is standardized to be turned on as a system which is desired by auser.

The circuit portion 2 of the ID 1 checks whether or not the disk isinserted into the drive at step S61. If it is determined that the diskis inserted into the drive, the flow shifts to step S62 to output aninstruction to the display unit 13 such that the selection screens ofvarious existent OSs are displayed. In correspondence with a selectioninstruction of an OS desired by a user, the flow passes through step S63to check at step S64 whether the OS selected by the use is present onthe disk portion 3. If YES at step S64, the circuit portion 2 instructsthe optical disk drive unit 11 to load the selected OS at step S65. TheOS read from the disk portion 3 is loaded in the buffer memory 16 (harddisk drive) by a DMA. On the other hand, if no selected OS is present inthe disk portion 3, the flow shifts to step S66 to connect the circuitportion 2 to the external host through the wireless communication unit25 to download a desired OS.

The circuit portion 2 waits for the end of loading at step S67. Uponcompletion of loading, the circuit portion 2 starts the OS at step S68.In this case, as the place for storing the program, the buffer memory 16or the RAM 23 of the ID may be used.

<ID Constructing car Navigation System>

FIG. 7 is a view showing an arrangement obtained when the ID accordingto this embodiment is applied to a car navigation system.

Referring to FIG. 7, in the car navigation system, an optical disk driveunit 31, a display unit 33, a touch panel 34, a loudspeaker 35 foroutputting voice, and a microphone 36 for inputting voice are built. Inthis embodiment, the ID interface 32 and the buffer memory 37 are notnecessary.

FIG. 8 shows data stored in a disk portion 3 of an ID in the carnavigation system.

In the place pointed by the directory, an OS, an application, and mapdata are stored. As the application, an application for a zoom process,the shortest route searching process, the predicted time calculationprocess, and the like are included. In addition, the information mayinclude catch programs such as information of resort places and weatherforecast. In this embodiment, although one OS is used, a plurality ofOSs may be used to cope with a plurality of systems. On the other hand,although not shown, the table of telephone numbers used by the ACU of awireless communication unit 25.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing an operation of a car navigation systemincluding an ID.

An intelligent circuit portion 2 of the ID 1 checks at step S91 whetherthe ID is inserted into a drive. If YES at step S91, the flow shifts tostep S92 to instruct the disk drive unit to load an OS and a program.Although not shown in detail, after an actual initial selection displayis performed, selection or the like of an application is executed, asdescribed at steps S62 to S63 shown in FIG. 6, for example.

The optical disk drive unit 31 loads the program, which is selected froma disk portion 3 by a DMA, on the buffer memory 37 according to aninstruction, and the circuit portion 2 executes the program at step S93.

At step S94, for example, area selection is performed. In this areaselection, when an area, a destination, and the like are transmitted byvoice through the microphone 36 for example, the voice is recognized totransmit the contents of the information to the circuit portion 2. Theflow shifts to step S95 to check whether the selected map is on the diskportion 3. If YES at step S95, the circuit portion 2 instructs theoptical disk drive unit 31 to load new map data, and the map data isread onto the buffer memory 37.

On the other hand, if the map is not on the disk, the flow shifts tostep S97, the wireless communication unit 25 of the ID automaticallyperforms dialing to telephone to the host. If data can be loaded, thedata is downloaded from the host to the buffer memory 37. If data cannotbe downloaded, a driver is notified that the data cannot be downloaded.

This automatic telephone dialing can also be used to obtain informationsuch as traffic information or weather forecast by an instruction of thedrive or an interrupt which is periodically input or input from anexternal device when various necessary telephone numbers are stored as atable. Although not described in this embodiment in detail, in additionto the information such as traffic information or weather forecast,merchant information such as a commercial message may be displayed.

When the map data is loaded, navigation information is output to thedisplay unit 33 and/or the loudspeaker 35 by using the OS, application,program, and map data on the buffer memory 37 at step S99.

The map data is updated in accordance with an instruction of the driveror the movement of the automobile position.

<ID Constructing Automatic Selling and Settlement System>

FIG. 10 is a view showing an arrangement of an automatic selling andsettlement system using an ID according to this embodiment. Thisembodiment describes a case wherein all functions are effected by oneID. However, an inexpensive ID card for selling merchandise and apersonally owned ID card for settlement can be separated from eachother. In addition, although this system exemplifies a case in which atelevision set is used, the system may be realized by a portabletelephone/ID device constituted by an ID drive unit, an LCD displayunit, a keyboard (or touch panel).

Referring to FIG. 10, a television set 42 is used as the display unitfor the ID, and selection and instruction are performed on thetelevision screen by a remote controller 43.

FIG. 11 is a view showing an arrangement of data stored in the ID diskportion 3 in this system.

An OS, an application, merchandise catalog data are stored on a placepointed by a directory. As the merchandise catalog data, order telephonenumbers and the like for respective pieces of merchandises are alsostored. In addition, personal information such as sizes of shoes andclothes required for order may also be stored. As the application, forexample, an application for a catalog output process for outputting acatalog onto a television screen, an application for a merchandise orderprocess for automatically ordering a piece of merchandise selected by auser to a maker to send the order report to a credit company, anapplication for an automatic settlement process for using the ID as acredit card, an application for an electronic wallet process for usingthe ID as an electronic wallet for electronic money, or the like isstored.

The plurality of applications are stored in one ID, the catalog outputprocess, the merchandise order process, the automatic settlementprocess, the electronic wallet process must be independently performedto keep secret, and are completely separated from other processes.Similarly, data used by these processes are managed such that separateportions completely separated from a shared portion coexist. In theabove system, although not specifically described, the same managementas described above must be performed between a plurality of OSs in thesystem in FIG. 3 such that the programs or data of the OSs are notbroken. This is realized by using digital signature or personalidentification number technique.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing a series of procedures performedfrom when a piece of merchandise is ordered by this system to whensettlement is completed.

In a user ID device in which an IC card is inserted, a merchandisecatalog stored in the disk portion 3 is displayed, and a user selects apiece of desired merchandise. In this case, the circuit portion of theID card performs automatic dialing to the maker of merchandise by usingthe wireless communication unit 25 (1st). When this order is accepted,the ID card performs automatic dialing to a credit company to be used,and a report representing that the order is completed (2nd). When themaker ships the ordered merchandise (3rd), the maker sends a report thatthe merchandise is shipped (4th). The credit company receives thisreport to send remittance to the maker (5th) and requests the user ofpayment (6th). The user who receives the bill and pays money into theaccount of the credit company by the automatic settlement function orelectronic wallet function of the IC card (7th), the bank reports thecompletion of payment to the credit company (8th), and the series ofselling and settlement processes are completed.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing an operation procedure of, especially,an order process of the series of processes.

The circuit portion checks insertion of the ID into a drive at stepS131. If YES at step S131, the circuit portion instructs a drive unit toload an OS and a desired application from the disk portion 3 at stepS132. Note that selection of applications is realized as at steps S62and S63 in FIG. 6 described above.

An optical disk drive unit 41 transfers the designated programs andcatalog data to a buffer memory 45 of the TV set or the RAM 23 of the ID1 at step S133. The circuit portion 2 of the ID 1 instructs thetelevision set 42 to display the catalog at step S134. Although theprocess for selecting a display catalog must be performed before thecatalog is displayed, a description of the selection process will beomitted.

When merchandise selection is performed by a remote controller 43 of auser at step S135 to select a piece of merchandise, the circuit portionsends the telephone number of a corresponding maker to the wirelesscommunication unit 25 to perform automatic dialing at step S136, therebyautomatically ordering the selected merchandise. When the order isaccepted by the maker, the flow shifts from step S137 to step S138 todisplay “order OK” on the television set 42 and to record completion oforder on the disk portion 3 or the RAM 23. At steps S139 and S140,automatic dialing and order report performed to a credit company to beused.

On the other hand, if the order is not accepted, the flow shifts to stepS141 to display “disable order”.

As an example similar to this system, an automatic reserving system forrecording television programs is considered. In this case, televisionprogram data for one week or the like is stored in place of themerchandise catalog data in FIG. 3. As applications, an application fora television program display process, an application for a televisionprogram recording reserve process, an application for a recordingmanagement process, and the like are stored.

By using the above ID, computer makers are released from oligopolycontrol of CPUs and OSs, and an ID in which a CPU optimum for respectivepieces of software is mounted, is available from software makers. Inaddition, hardware makers can terminate unprofitable business whereinmodel changes must be performed three or four times a year according tofrequent improvement of CPU.

Users can enjoy improved utility by using ID. For example, unlessavailable software is temporarily copied from a CD-ROM or the like ontoa hard disk, the utility of the software utility is degraded. For thisreason, the hard disk is easily made full, and another hard disk must beadded, or the computer itself must be changed. However, when the ID isused, another hard disk or a new computer are not necessary, and troublecaused by an attaching/detaching process can be avoided.

More specifically, according to this ID, the ID can flexibly cope withchanges in specification such as improvement of a CPU, and a situation,which considerably damages the utility for a user, i.e., failure in thecompatibility of pieces of hardware caused by the difference between OSsor formats, can be avoided. By using this ID, hardware which has beenregarded as a computer itself can be regarded as a simple man-machineinterface (a so-called combination of a display, a keyboard, and thelike), and the hardware is considered as home electronics such as a TVor a VTR, i.e., durable goods. Therefore, utility for the users isconsiderably improved, and makers increase additional values by devisingdesigns and functions.

In addition, the waste disposal of computers at present has posed socialproblems. These problems are caused by excessive model changes in thecomputer industry in which a model becomes obsolescent within an averageof three months. The ID according to the present invention removes thecauses of the problems and releases the computer industry from oligopolycontrol to considerably improve the utility for users.

Although not described in this embodiment, an ID-GAME obtained bycombining a game-dedicated CPU and various pieces of game software canbe available.

When the ID according to this embodiment is combined with variousfunctions as a multi-functional ID card, a more effective storage mediumcan be obtained.

According to the present invention, a storage medium having anelectronic circuit portion serves as a central unit, and a main bodyserves as a peripheral unit, so that a system which is required by anowner of the storage medium can be arbitrarily constructed and acomputer system having the storage medium, for example, a personalcomputer, a car navigation system, a multi-functional television set, orthe like can be provided.

The present invention has been described with reference to thepreferable embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited tothe above embodiments, and various modifications can be effected withinthe spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A storage medium for use as a removable disk,comprising: a pair of layers, wherein one of the pair of layers has anoptically recordable or recorded surface and is used as an informationrecording portion for storing information, and another of the pair oflayers has no recordable or recorded surface and is used as anelectronic circuit portion for processing information to control anexternal device, wherein a plurality of operating systems are stored inthe information recording portion, and said electronic circuit portionhas determination means for determining the characteristics of saidexternal device, selecting means for selecting one of the plurality ofoperating systems to be executed in correspondence with a determinationresult of said determination means, and control means for executing theselected operating system to control said external device.
 2. A storagemedium for use as a removable disk, comprising; a pair of layers,wherein one of the pair of layers has an optically recordable orrecorded surface and is used as an information recording portion forstoring information, and another of the pair of layers has no recordableor recorded surface and is used as an electronic circuit portion forprocessing information to control an external device, wherein saidinformation recording portion stores a plurality of operating systems,and said electronic circuit portion comprises display instruction meansfor causing said external device to selectively display the plurality ofoperating systems, selecting means for selecting one of the plurality ofoperating systems to be executed in correspondence with selectioninstruction, and control means for executing the selected operatingsystem to control said external device.
 3. An optical disk comprising: apair of layers, wherein one of the pair of layers has an opticallyrecordable or recorded surface and is used as an information recordingportion for storing information, and another of the pair of layers hasno recordable or recorded surface and is used as an electronic circuitportion for processing information to control an external device,wherein a plurality of operating programs are stored in the informationrecording portion, and said electronic circuit portion has determinationmeans for determining the characteristics of said external device,selecting means for selecting one of the plurality of operating systemsto be executed in correspondence with a determination result of saiddetermination means, and control means for executing the selectedoperating system to control said external device.
 4. A computer system,comprising a storage medium for use as a removable disk, said storagemedium having an information recording portion for storing informationand an electronic circuit portion for processing information to controlsaid computer system, wherein a plurality of operating systems arestored in said information recording portion, and said electroniccircuit portion has determination means for determining thecharacteristics of said computer system, selecting means for selectingone of the plurality of operating systems to be executed incorrespondence with a determination result of said determination means,and control means for executing the selected operating system to controlsaid computer system.
 5. A computer system, comprising a storage mediumfor use as a removable disk, said storage medium having an informationrecording portion for storing information and an electronic circuitportion for processing information to control said computer system,wherein said information recording portion stores a plurality ofoperating systems, and said electronic circuit portion comprises displayinstruction means for causing said computer system to selectivelydisplay the plurality of operating systems, selecting means forselecting one of the plurality of operating systems to be executed incorrespondence with selection instruction, and control means forexecuting the selected operating system to control said computer system.